I’m a first-time mama. I came in for an induction due to the diagnosis of IUGR. Carley Neiswender was absolutely amazing. She helped me through contractions by encouraging me to breathe. She probably gave me 100 “Marti” drinks to give me a boost of energy through labor since I wasn’t able to eat while I was on the provided medications to ripen my cervix. Carley was extraordinary because she read, knew, and remembered my birth plan. During the epidural, she helped me get in position and calmed my anxiety by telling me that it was going to be okay and that I was strong.
During the birth, I noticed that the Doctor was about to do an episiotomy, but I couldn’t say much as I was about to push. This nurse whispered to another nurse that she remembered that I didn’t want to be cut in my birth plan, and she told the doctor not to cut me because it was in my birth plan for no episiotomy. I was pushing for 15 minutes and nine pushes. I was confused about why the doctor thought I needed one.
After birth, I thought it would be cool to have a placenta painting, but since I was at IUGR, I couldn’t keep it long enough to do it myself. My nurse was awesome and collected some ink, painted it on there, and imprinted it onto a few sheets of paper. How cool that a nurse was willing not only to advocate my birth plan to the doctor at that moment but also to do something for me that she had never done before because of my requests. She got to imprint my placenta on paper.
I truly believe if it wasn’t for her guiding me through this difficult process, I would have been through the roof with anxiety. So thank you to my nurse. You made my birth experience amazing. I’ll forever thank you!